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Dieter_Christine

Christine E. Dieter

Partner Providence

Christine is a partner in the firm’s Environmental and Energy Practice Groups with experience advising clients on regulatory, permitting, and litigation matters. She has worked on some of the most complex energy projects in the region, including the permitting for the offshore wind projects South Fork Wind, Revolution Wind, and Sunrise Wind. She has worked on behalf of solar developers, including arguing successfully before the Rhode Island Supreme Court to overturn a zoning board decision denying the developer a special use permit for a commercial-scale project. Christine also represents regional utilities in proceedings before state regulatory agencies and related litigation, including before the Rhode Island Supreme Court and Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Christine has extensive experience working with complex statutory and regulatory environmental schemes. She has worked on many federal consistency reviews under the Coastal Zone Management Act and has written and spoken on its applications. She has aided clients navigating wetlands, clean water, and remediation regulations, both in permitting projects and representing clients in litigation and enforcement matters. Christine focuses on creative problem-solving to help her clients resolve issues and move projects forward efficiently.

Christine is a member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

Credentials

Work Experience

  • Hinckley Allen
    • Partner (2022-Present)
    • Associate (2016-Present)
  • Goodwin Procter LLP
    • Associate (2013-2016)
    • Summer Associate (2011)
  • The Honorable Joseph L. Tauro, United States District Court, Massachusetts
    • Law Clerk (2012-2013)
  • The Honorable Barbara A. Lenk, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
    • Judicial Extern (2011)
  • Committee for Public Counsel Services, Children & Family Law Division
    • Intern (2010)

Honors & Awards

  • Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch (2021-2023)
    • Energy Law
    • Environmental Law

Charitable & Civic Involvement

  • Day One Rhode Island
    • Board Member (2020-Present)
  • Environmental Business Council of New England, Rhode Island Chapter
    • Vice Chair (2023-Present)
    • Member (2020-Present)

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • Boston Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
    • LGBTQ+ Law Section, Chair
  • Massachusetts Bar Association
  • New England Women in Energy and the Environment
  • Rhode Island Bar Association

Bar Memberships

  • Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island

Newsroom

Publication

The Impact of Rhode Island’s New Land Use Laws on Property Owners

During the 2023 legislative session, the Rhode Island legislature enacted a package of sweeping changes to Rhode Island’s zoning and land use laws. The goal: streamline housing development permitting in Rhode Island, resulting in increased production. Ma…

Publication

The Next Big Area of Environmental Regulation: PFAS

This is Part I of the three part series.  Stay tuned for Part II, where our attorneys delve further into the federal regulations on PFAS.Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) are everywhere in our environment, including in our water, air, food,…

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Firm News

67 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2023

Hinckley Allen is pleased to announce that 67 attorneys are recognized in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, including 5 “Lawyers of the Year.” Best Lawyers® has also recognized 24 Hinckley Allen attorneys in their “Ones to Watch” …

Firm News

Hinckley Allen Elevates Ten Attorneys to Partner

Hinckley Allen announced today that ten attorneys at the firm have been elevated to Partner.They are: Chad J. Caplan, Christine E. Dieter, Laurel M. Gilbert, Thomas W. Madonna, Jr., Elizabeth J. McEvoy, Alexander P. Montgomery, Libbie Howley O'Keeffe, Dami…

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Case Study

Overcoming Zoning Hurdles for Renewable, Clean Energy

Hinckley Allen represented a commercial-scale solar energy provider as it sought to build a solar farm in Rhode Island.Town regulations required the energy provider to obtain a zoning special use permit. Hinckley Allen helped the client manage the zoning p…

Events

Past Event

EBC Tenth Annual Offshore Wind Conference: T-minus 7 Years to 30GW by 2030

February 15, 2023

Partner Christine Dieter will join an esteemed group of speakers for the Environmental Business Council's tenth annual offshore wind conference, "T-minus 7 Years to 30GW by 2030." Christine's session is titled "Permitting Litigation Losses," where she will…

Past Event

VIRTUAL EVENT: EBC 3rd Annual Rhode Island Offshore Wind Conference

November 18, 2022

Join Partner Christine E. Dieter as she co-chairs the Environmental Business Council of New England's 3rd Annual Rhode Island Offshore Wind Conference: Partnering for the Future of Offshore Wind in Rhode Island.The third annual EBC Rhode Island Offshore Wi…

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